Phantoms of the Brain - ©koo_pigeon
a paradoxical condition; many amputees like Ray Edwards MBE and Roy Wright (above) suffer the plight of phantom limb syndrome – sensations of cramp, pins & needles or greater pain in a part of themselves that no longer physically exists.
for many the relationship between amputee and their phantom is complex, as it can both be considered a desirable reminder of what once was (both the limb and the life before amputation), and painful complication. lord nelson claimed these unacknowledged body parts to be “direct evidence for the existence of the soul”, but science explains the sensation is down to a lack of sensory feedback from the vacant area back to the brain.
like the distortion that occurs when an image is projected onto an object, telescoping and deformation of the phantoms are commonly experienced. i've experimented a bit with this idea; projecting limbs onto empty spaces (very crudely)
- clearly needs a lot of work tho.
Limbcare have been very generous with their time and given me a greater insight to the phenomenon, treatments and other issues i hadn't considered, such as aiding the integration of injured service ppl back into society. their individual stories are incredibly inspiring too, so i'm really hoping i can create a mature response to the information i've gained and enter it into Arden's 'legacy' competition. pressure's on.
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